Seating apparatus for portable containers

ABSTRACT

A seating apparatus for portable containers comprising a pair of U-shaped support members pivotably coupled to the sides of the container, and movable vertically upwardly and downwardly thereon, and a removable seat, which may form the cover of the container, having at least one mounting bracket affixed thereto for engaging the support members and securing the seat during use.

United States Patent [191 Law [ SEATING APPARATUS FOR PORTABLE CONTAINERS [76] Inventor: Pui-Yee Law, 3207 Walnut Hill Apt.

2016, lrving, Tex. 75060 22 Filed: Apr. 21, 1972 21 Appl. No.: 246,404

[52] US. Cl. 220/85 R, 108/50, 108/118,

190/8, 248/164, 297/193 [51] Int. Cl. A47c 7/00, 865d 25/00 [58] Field of Search 220/85 R, 85 CH, 85 H,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,114,574 12/1963 Pryace "297/193 [451 Mar. w, 1974 6/1971 Harris 297/193 3,106,296 10/1963 Walsh et a1. 108/118 3,265,019 8/1966 Haydock 108/119 3,057,508 10/1962 Kimbrough, Jr. 220/557 Primary Examiner-William 1. Price Assistant ExaminerAllan N. Shoap Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Allison C. Collard [57] ABSTRACT 9 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures The present invention relates to portable containers, and in particular to portable containers, particularly for outdoor equipment, which may be converted into temporary seats or stools as desired.

On picnics, trips to beaches and parks, and on hunting and fishing trips, for example, it is usually necessary to carry food and equipment in portable containers. Portable folding chairs and other seats must be carried separately, in addition to the containers. It is, therefore, desirable to combine a suitable seating apparatus with a portable container which carries the food and equip ment.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a seating apparatus for portable containers, comprising at least one support member, means affixed to the container, for movably mounting the support member on the sides of the container, a removable seat for disposal on the support member, and means for securing the seat on the support member during use. The support member is movable vertically upwardly and downwardly with respect to the sides of the container to adjust its posi tion during use and when carrying the container. The seat may be carried within the container when not in use, or may serve as the cover of the container.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for converting containers into temporary seats.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a seating apparatus, especially for outdoor equipment containers, which also serves as a carrying handle for the container.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a seating apparatus for a portable container which is simple in design, easy to manufacture and durable in use.

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which disclose several embodiments of the invention. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed for the purpose of illustration only, and are not intended as a definition of the limitsand scope of the invention.

In the drawings, wherein similar reference numerals denote similar elements throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a seating apparatus for a portable container constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the seating apparatus of FIG. 1, showing it in use;

FIG.,3 is a side view of the container and seating apparatus, along section 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the support members and FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the seating apparatus of FIG. 7, showing it in use; and

FIG. 9 is a bottom view of the seating apparatus, along section 9-9 of FIG. 8.

Referring to the drawings, specifically FIGS. L4, there is shown a portable container it) having a circular, removable cover 11 disposed over the opening thereof. A pair of tubular, U-shaped support members 12 are pivotably coupled together along their vertical sections and attached to container 10 by bolt 13. When the members are pivoted apart, they form a pair of X- shaped legs adjacent each side of the container, and a pair of parallel seat supports above the container. The bolt is slidably disposed in a vertically disposed mounting member 14 having an elongated slot 15 for receiving bolt 13. Cover 11 is provided with a pair of rectangular-shaped notches 16, disposed along the diameter of cover 11, for receiving the support members when they are used to carry the container, as illustrated in FIG. 1.

Mounting bracket 17, which is an elongated metallic strip having U-shaped flanges formed on its ends, is secured to the bottom of cover 11. When cover It is disposed over support 'members 12, and the support members are spread apart, the U-shaped flanges 18 receive the horizontal sections of the support member, and secure the seat over'the support members.

To transport the container, support members 12 are pivoted together to provide a carrying handle. Cover 11 is disposed over the open top of the container and secured by support members 12 and notches l6. Vertical slot 15 in mounting member 114 allows support members 12 to be moved upwardly when container 10 is placed on the ground, floor or other support surface, and also when the container is carried by member 12. When the support members are pivoted apart, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, vertical slot 15 allows bolt 13 to slide downwardly until the support members engage the ground floor, or other support surface. Cover II, and the person sitting on the seating apparatus will thus be supported only by the ground surface, not the container.

In FIGS. 5 and 6, mounting member 14 is illustrated in detail. Bolt 13 has a spherical-shaped head, an elongated cylindrical portion 19 which is disposed through the center of members 12 to pivotably couple them together, and an annular disc 20 integrally formed on the end of bolt 13. Slot 15 is T-shaped, and annular disc 20, having a diameter greater than cylindrical section 19, is slidably disposed in slot 15 to allow vertical movement of bolt 13, but prevent horizontal movement thereof.

Container 10 may be constructed of a suitable, strong plastic, such as polyethylene, polypropylene, or polyvinyl chloride, or of a lightweight metallic material, such as aluminum. Cover 1 1 is preferably constructed of the same material as container 10. Support members 12, bolt 13, and mounting bracket 17 are preferably lightweight metal to provide sufficient strength and durability for the seating apparatus, although they also may be constructed of suitable plastic material.

FIGS. 7-9 illustrate a second embodiment of the invention. Container 21 is rectangular-shaped, and has a permanent cover comprising rectangular flaps 22 and 23 which are pivotably mounted on container 2] by hinges 24. The container is provided with support members 25, similar to support members 12 in the previously described embodiment, which are affixed to container 21 by bolts 26. Bolts 26 are disposed in elongated vertical slots 27, which have enlarged apertures 28 at the lower ends thereof for allowing bolts 26, which are identical in shape to bolts 19 of the previously described embodiment, to be moved down the slot and removed outwardly from the container through aperture 28. Seat 29 has dimensions which are substantially larger than the opening of container 21, and may be disposed vertically inside the container when not in use. This embodiment of the invention is particularly suitable for a container which is constructed of soft plastic. Seat 29 would then be constructed of a lightweight metallic material, such as aluminum, to provide the strength necessary for the seat. A pair of mounting brackets 30 and 31, identical to bracket 17 of the previously described embodiment, are fastened to the bottom of seat 29 so as to engage support members 25 when the seat is in use and support the person using the apparatus.

The embodiments of the invention described are merely two illustrated embodiments of the invention. They may be a fishing pail, a diaper bag pail or ice chest. A seating apparatus may also be used with other outdoor equipment containers, such as portable stoves, fishing tackle boxes, knitting carts and handbags.

While only several embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described it will be obvious to those persons skilled in the art that many changes and modifications maybe made thereunto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Seating apparatus for portable containers, comprising:

a pair of tubular, U-shaped support legs, pivotably coupled together along the vertical sections thereof, for providing a pair of X-shaped support legs adjacent each side of the container;

a pair of horizontally disposed seat supports above the container for supporting said seating member;

means, affixed to the container, for pivotably and movably mounting said pair of tubular support legs on the container, said support legs being pivotable about said means and movable vertically upwardly and downwardly with respect thereto and the container; seating member, carried by the container during transportation thereof, for disposal on said seat supports; and means for demountably securing said seat on said seat supports during use of the seating apparatus.

2. The seating apparatus as recited in claim I, wherein said means for movably mounting said support member on the container comprises a pair of vertically disposed mounting members, each affixed to the sides of the container opposite each other along a diameter thereof, and having a vertically disposed, elongated, T- shaped slot provided therein, and a pair of rigid pivot pins, disposed in said elongated slots and through the support legs.

3. The seating apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein said means for demountably securing said seating member on said support member comprises an elongated mounting bracket, having a pair of U-shaped abutment members formed at the ends thereof for receiving said support legs and demountably securing said seating member on said support member.

4. The seating apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein said seating member forms a cover for the container and includes a pair of notches disposed in the edges thereof for receiving said support legs when the container is carried by said support legs.

5. The seating apparatus as recited in claim 4, wherein said pivot pin comprises an elongated pin having a semi-spherical shaped head, an elongated cylindrically shaped body portion, and a circular disc portion integrally formed on the end of said cylindrically shaped portion, said circular disc portion being disposed in said T-shaped slot of said mounting member for permitting upward and downward vertical movement of said pivot pin therein.

6. The seating apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said means for mounting said support member on the container comprises a pivot pin having a semispherical shaped head, an elongated cylindrically shaped body portion, and a circular disc portion integrally formed on the end of said cylindrically shaped portion, the sides of the container being provided with a pair of elongated mounting slots each having a circular aperture at the lower end thereof, for receiving said pivot pins, said circular disc portion being inserted through said circular aperture into the interior of the container for permitting vertically upward and downward movement of said pivot pins.

7. The seating apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein said seating member has dimensions greater than the opening of the container and is disposed in the container when the container is carried by said support member.

8. The seating apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein said means for securing said seating member on said support member comprises a pair of elongated mounting brackets, affixed to the bottom of said seating member, and having a pair of U-shaped abutment members formed at the ends thereof for receiving said support member and securing said seating member thereon.

9. The seating apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein said pivot pins are disposed through said support legs, so as to form a pair of X-shaped support legs on each side of the container, and a pair of horizontally disposed parallel seat supports above the container for supporting said seating member. 

1. Seating apparatus for portable containers, comprising: a pair of tubular, U-shaped support legs, pivotably coupled together along the vertical sections thereof, for providing a pair of X-shaped support legs adjacent each side of the container; a pair of horizontally disposed seat supports above the container for supporting said seating member; means, affixed to the container, for pivotably and movably mounting said pair of tubular support legs on the container, said support legs being pivotable about said means and movable vertically upwardly and downwardly with respect thereto and the container; a seating member, carried by the container during transportation thereof, for disposal on said seat supports; and means for demountably securing said seat on said seat supports during use of the seating apparatus.
 2. The seating apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said means for movably mounting said support member on the container comprises a pair of vertically disposed mounting members, each affixed to the sides of the container opposite each other along a diameter thereof, and having a vertically disposed, elongated, T-shaped slot provided therein, and a pair of rigid pivot pins, disposed in said elongated slots and through the support legs.
 3. The seating apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein said means for demountably securing said seating member on said support member comprises an elongated mounting bracket, having a pair of U-shaped abutment members formed at the ends thereof for receiving said support legs and demountably securing said seating member on said support member.
 4. The seating apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein said seating member forms a cover for the container and includes a pair of notches disposed in the edges thereof for receiving said support legs when the container is carried by said support legs.
 5. The seating apparatus as recited in claim 4, wherein said pivot pin comprises an elongated pin having a semi-spherical shaped head, an elongated cylindrically shaped body portion, and a circular disc portion integrally formed on the end of said cylindrically shaped portion, said circular disc portion being disposed in said T-shaped slot of said mounting member for permitting upward and downward vertical movement of said pivot pin therein.
 6. The seating apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said means for mounting said support member on the container comprises a pivot pin having a semi-spherical shaped head, an elongated cylindrically shaped body portion, and a circular disc portion integrally formed on the end of said cylindrically shaped portion, the sides of the container being provided with a pair of elongated mounting slots each having a circular aperture at the lower end thereof, fOr receiving said pivot pins, said circular disc portion being inserted through said circular aperture into the interior of the container for permitting vertically upward and downward movement of said pivot pins.
 7. The seating apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein said seating member has dimensions greater than the opening of the container and is disposed in the container when the container is carried by said support member.
 8. The seating apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein said means for securing said seating member on said support member comprises a pair of elongated mounting brackets, affixed to the bottom of said seating member, and having a pair of U-shaped abutment members formed at the ends thereof for receiving said support member and securing said seating member thereon.
 9. The seating apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein said pivot pins are disposed through said support legs, so as to form a pair of X-shaped support legs on each side of the container, and a pair of horizontally disposed parallel seat supports above the container for supporting said seating member. 